Resurrecting Bakassi

The clamour that Nigeria should appeal the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which ceded the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroun in 2002 is approaching hysteria. For those convinced on the need for Nigeria to seek a review of the judgment, the opportunity for appeal, which closes in a few days time must be explored, regardless of the chances of success. Many others however believe that there are no new facts to be put forward for the ICJ to review the judgment and as such the nation should come to terms with the loss of Bakassi. On our part, we are yet to see any compelling new evidence why the judgment of the ICJ could be upturned on appeal.

The opportunity that was open to Nigeria under international law was to have refused, ab initio, to submit to the jurisdiction of the ICJ, considering the history of the peninsula. But of course, it is commonly believed that those who stood to gain materially gave all the assurances that the trial would be a walk-over, regardless of historical missteps. Having submitted to the jurisdiction of the court, and lost; we hope the new demand for a fresh legal battle is not to gift some Nigerians an opportunity to gain, while the country loses face in the international arena.

More critically, in our view, is the failure of the Federal Government to keep her promise to protect and rehabilitate the people of Bakassi after the judgment was given in Cameroun’s favour. For us, and we guess many Nigerians, it is unacceptable that the promises made by the government to resettle the people have so far amounted to mere political hyperboles. We believe the people of Bakassi were shortchanged historically by trading their territory for gains for the country in the past; and it would amount to political perfidy to gloss over their present plight, as if it is a natural disaster, for which the country is helpless.

Under international law, the people inhabiting that territory have a right to choose their future; whether to become Camerounians or remain Nigerians, or even become an independent state were the parameters realisable. But having been Nigerians all their lives, the people obviously prefer to remain Nigerians, even though no official plebiscite has been conducted. But by the implication of the judgment and that choice, they have turned to Nigerians living in a foreign territory, and this has seriously eroded their rights to engage in their main economic activity which is fishing within the waters abutting the peninsula.

It is even more embarrassing that while Nigeria under the so-called Green Tree agreement, was working assiduously to hand over the territory affected by the judgment to Cameroun, it neglected to put in place a clear roadmap to protect the rights and interests of the people still living on the peninsula. Unfortunately, the people of Bakassi displaced by decisions beyond their control have become soft targets for Camerounian gendarmes, and that is totally unacceptable. In our view, Nigerians, wherever they may reside, deserve protection from their government; and while working out modalities for a permanent solution to the crisis, a strong and clear message must be sent to the Camerounian political authorities to rein in their security agencies.

Unfortunately, many public figures in the region are using the crisis for political mileage. For them, what is important is that they are seen to be politically correct, even when their positions are untenable or even dubious. Again, some politicians or interests who are removed from the direct effects of the crisis are not disposed to treating the crisis as a national emergency, and tend to downplay the situation. As the nation swings between the two political extremes, the people of Bakassi are left to suffer the misjudgments of a political leadership that has shown lack of capacity to promote and protect its citizens in dire straits.

We earnestly urge the Federal Government to immediately fulfill its obligations to the people of Bakassi. That obligation will include, adequately resettling them and providing a tenable environment for their economic activities. Again, their natural rights protected under international law must be respected by the Camerounians at a clear behest of Nigeria’s leadership. There is also the need to provide for adequate compensation and protection of their cultural rights, including retrieving physical totems where possible, for transfer to the new territory that will be provided for them.

For us, it is important that the choice of the people of Bakassi to remain Nigerians does not lead to regret because of the nonchalant attitude of those in authority. As we await the actions of the Federal Government to protect the rights of the Bakassi people, we hope it will be guided by patriotic pragmatism.

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It is fatal to all argument, including ICJ judgement, that no plebiscite was conducted and the clear and express wishes of Bakassi people and the peninsula to remain Nigerians must be respected, Cameroonian territorial ambitions notwithstanding!
Where has a treaty under international laws ever been concluded between country presidents without Legislative enactment and support, as the so called Green Tree Treaty tried to do?
What is our business doing the bidding of the ICJ whose judgements are of persuasive authority only? That is even if Nigeria participated in the case or accepted their temporary jurisdiction?
Will this be the first or last judgement they will pass that will be rejected and rightly so in this case?
The treaty and the ICJ judgement has been rejected by the 5th, 6th and 7th National Assembly and that is final!
Just as the ICJ claims that their judgement has no appeal only reviews, so the decision of our patriotic National Assembly has no appeal only a revisit, which fortunately will not be coming!
Presidents Obasanjo and Yara’dua did this country a disservice on the Bakassi issue, I regret to say!
The so called hand over is therefore illegal and possibly a treasonable offence under normal state laws but the situation is still evolving despite all tales!
If the Southern Cameroons and then Northern provinces including Adamawa had a plebiscite to determine their future and nationality, why deny the inalienable right of the Bakassi people?
In any case Bakassi people had already carried out their own referendum and Nigeria it is and they have so loudly proclaimed that that the UN itself is deafened!
Why do you think there is a rebel group in English speaking Cameroons today? They want to rejoin Nigeria to reverse the 1963/64 ‘mistake’ of voting for Cameroon or become independent!
It is Bakassi, our soil, our land, our people that some people want to throw away to the dogs!
On the foundation of Bakassi Nigeria stands and will continue to stand!

Bakassi is our frontier and our Armageddon!

Kay

I pray we should regain theme back

Simpleman

God will help us,Nig has so many educated persons and that is why it can not move forward in anything, am sorry that our Bakassi may not be regain because our so callled educated rulling elite has already taken a position period.We need Gods intervention to succed.

olanrewaju joel

Bakasi Penisula and inhabitants are Nigerians it is absurd to throw away ones pple under the pretence of diplomacy. what diplomacy is there at the expence of our interest.
the saying is love your neighbour as youself not more than yuorself. if we are christian/muslim or traditional believer the law of God is same.
so we protect our interest before that of Cameroun GET THE LAND BACK BY :1 RULE OF LAW
2: NEGOTIATION OR BUY BACK
3: GO TO WAR WHICH WILL FORCE ALL BACT TO ICJ.
THE MOST IMPORTANT IS BAKASI MUST NOT BE THROWN AWAY as somebody wished to use it to purchase NOBLE PRICE FOR PEACE or political agrandisment of the two.
USA bought Alaska from Russia FGN must be ready for that the sooner the better .

Spectacle

The inhabitant of the territory must decide where they want to belong.How will the indigene of Ogun state feel if their state is surrendered to Benin Republic? Betrayed isn’t it?